parentshiftbook Chapter 816 - 312: Tang Yan’s Night Raid (Part 2)
Chapter 816 - 312: Tang Yan’s Night Raid (Part 2)
The two women simultaneously looked at him and retorted: "We also graduated from proper art schools, okay? Back in school, our teachers would often take us to see musicals. Who do you think you’re looking down on?"Alright.
He almost forgot that these two actually graduated from the three major art schools.
Yang Mi graduated from Beijing Film Academy, Tang Yan from Central Academy of Drama.
"Alright, since you guys want to watch it, I’ll throw caution to the wind." Sun Dasheng decided.
This highbrow stuff is definitely worth checking out.
What’s so captivating about it?
As they stepped into the theater, it felt like they traveled through a time tunnel, leaving the hustle and bustle of reality behind, entering an art hall full of fantasy and poetry.
Inside the theater, the lights gradually dimmed, and the stage curtain slowly opened, unveiling the mysterious "Phantom of the Opera."
Yes, today the theater showcases the famous musical "Phantom of the Opera."
Created in the 1980s when world politics, economy, technology, and culture flourished, giant musicals characterized by stars, contemporary plots, catchy tunes, stage effects, and high production costs gained immense popularity.
Andrew Lloyd Webber, born into a musical family, had a deep interest in classical music due to his family environment. He drew inspiration from traditional musicals, blending classical and modern music elements to create "Phantom of the Opera."
Moreover, this musical achieved unprecedented success:
Premiered in London in 1986, appeared on Broadway in 1988, performed in more than 20 countries and over 120 cities, with over 70,000 shows, grossing a worldwide box office of over $32 billion, and viewed by over 100 million people, it is one of the most successful works in musical theater history.
Yes, it’s just that impressive and profitable.
Dominating over all movies.
Western entertainment products’ ability to generate revenue is almost unmatched compared to musicals.
But this very popular western phenomenon.
Has only a moderate impact domestically.
Because we have a diverse range of classical theaters in our country.
Be it the well-known Peking Opera, or like Huangmei Opera, Yu Opera, Ping Opera, Yue Opera... various regional operas guard the local market.
Preventing foreign musicals from spreading locally.
Thinking about this, Sun Dasheng suddenly understood why musicals are so popular in the West.
Just like the various regional operas in China, they are rooted in their own local cultures, having a broad audience among the people.
No wonder that even in today’s age of advanced internet, with short videos, games, novels, and other popular entertainment forms constantly emerging, these traditional forms of entertainment are undying.
The youngsters probably think they’re all dead?
Actually, if you take a walk around, you can still find a substantial audience for these regional operas.
He vividly remembers the Yu Opera in Henan.
Whenever a famous opera troupe comes to perform, the locals bring their own stools to compete for seats.
The audience is massive.
More popular than many celebrities.
Walking into the grand theater, finding seats.
All around were basically foreigners.
Few Asians with black hair and black eyes like them were there.
"Hey, why are there so few Chinese enjoying this?" Yang Mi and Tang Yan also noticed the issue.
Thus, Sun Dasheng explained the insights he just recalled.
The two suddenly nodded with realization: "Didn’t expect the crude stuff we usually overlook is so popular in our country."
Sun Dasheng disliked this comment, what’s with calling it crude?
Our regional operas are also splendid and elegant, okay?
They hold a similar status in our country as musicals do in theirs.
The musical was indeed good.
Sun Dasheng had a very comfortable sleep.
Slept soundly for several hours until Yang Mi woke him up.
"Wake up, it’s already over."
"Oh, that was quick!" Sun Dasheng stretched.
"Where is everyone?" Sun Dasheng glanced around at the empty theater.
"They all left, you really can sleep, with such loud sounds for four, five hours, how did you manage to sleep?" Tang Yan teased beside him.
"Oh, then let’s leave too." Sun Dasheng stood up: "This musical was great, maybe someday if I have poor sleep, I’ll come and listen, it will instantly cure my insomnia."
Tang Yan:....
Yang Mi chuckled, linking arms with Sun Dasheng: "Alright, it can be considered a good deed that it helped you rest well."
Seeing Sun Dasheng looking much better.
Yang Mi was genuinely happy.
After listening to the musical.
Yang Mi saw Sun Dasheng looking lively, suggested going to the pool.
Wanted to swim.
Sun Dasheng had no objections to this.
After sleeping for so long, it’s time to move around a bit.
This suggestion was exactly what he wished for.
The pool on the top deck was built at the edge of the ship, where one could swim and see the vast blue ocean.
The view was spectacular.
There were three pools.
Two of them were for women and men respectively.
The other one is a public pool, meaning anyone can swim here.
Sun Dasheng, holding Yang Mi at the public pool, said with a sly smile: "I heard they have over a hundred genders in the West, with only two gender-specific pools, aren’t there any protests?"
Yang Mi splashed water at him, laughed and said: "You’re quite knowledgeable, knowing their quirks?"
"Of course, it’s all over the internet, no need to specifically look it up, just casually browsing you’ll find out."
At this moment, Tang Yan also came over from the women’s pool, joining their conversation: "Those things are just tricks played by the upper class targeting the lower class, the elites themselves aren’t affected."
"Oh?" Sun Dasheng showed some curiosity towards her, "You know quite a lot, tell me how they use this to target and control the lower class."
Tang Yan proudly raised her eyebrows at him: "This whole identity politics thing was cooked up by Western politicians to better control their votes, and also to prevent the lower class from uniting."
"Think about it, most of the wealth in the West is concentrated in the hands of a few individuals at the top, can they really sit comfortably?"
Tang Yan asked.
"Definitely not comfortably." Sun Dasheng thought for a moment and said.
"Exactly, in order to ensure their wealth will last through generations, they naturally divide the opposing voices below infinitely," she elaborated, "Wonder who came up with this genius idea, to directly divide the identities of the lower class infinitely, making them all into tiny groups, then letting them fight amongst themselves, this way they won’t have the energy to deal with those who control most of the wealth above them."
Tang Yan explained thoroughly.
Sun Dasheng thought this woman wasn’t completely useless.
She has a smart mind.
Yang Mi, on the other hand, was bewildered by the conversation.
She wasn’t particularly interested in these topics.
Her intelligence was mostly used on how to get more film roles, more top luxury endorsements, attract more media attention, and stay relevant in the entertainment circle.
"Alright, let’s stop talking about this boring topic, let’s compete!" she suggested.
"Compete in what?" Tang Yan asked.
"See which of us three swims fastest! The loser has a penalty." Yang Mi displayed eagerness.
Tang Yan immediately objected: "We’re two women, how can we compete against one man, it’s unfair."
"Of course, he has a handicap," Yang Mi acknowledged the gender difference.
"What handicap?" Tang Yan asked.
"We start halfway and then he can begin, how about that?" Yang Mi proposed.
"Will he agree?" Tang Yan glanced at the less than fifty-meter lane and asked.
"What do you think?" Yang Mi asked Sun Dasheng.
Sun Dasheng was, of course, fearless, patted his chest: "No problem, you can give the starting command when it’s time."
"I just wonder what the penalty is for the last place," he suddenly grew interested.